Ventilating window-screen.



G. H. KNIGHT.

VENTILATING wmnow scum.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1907.

906, 142. Patented Dec. s, 1908.

4 SHEET8-BHEBT 1.

G. H. KNIGHT.

VENTILATING WINDOW 301mm.

APPLICATION FILED 5116.7. 1907. 906,142. Patented Dec.8,1908

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'rni ucRRas PETERS m wnsmevcmm P G. H. KNIGHT.

VENTILATING WINDOW SGKEEN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. '1. 1907.

906,142. Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3v G. H. KNIGHT.

VEHTILATING WINDOW SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1907.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

GEORGE H. KNIGHT, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

VENTILATING WINDOW-SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed. August 7, 1907. Serial No. 387,401.

To all TIIiO'TIL it may concern:

lie it known that I, Gnonon H. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating\Vindow-Screens; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a ventilating window screen and moreespecially to a. screen which can be removably placed in position in theframe of a window in the opening left by the raising or lowering of oneof the Window sashes and which is provided with means for regulating orcontrolling the amount of air passing therethrough.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter more particularly setforth and pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the inside of a window casing showingthe lower window sash raised and my novel ventilating screen in placetherebelow. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the side members ofthe screen frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on line 33 of Fig. '7.Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the right hand sidemember of the screen frame, looking toward the center thereof. Fig. 5 isa horizontal section, on the line 55 of Fig. 7. Fig. 6 is an inside faceview of the lower right hand corner portion of the screen frame. Fig. 7is a view in perspective of the upper right hand corner portion of saidframe. Fig. 8 is an outside face view of the lower portion of the screenframe. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the right hand side memberof the screen frame showing a modified form of construction thereof.Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the side members of the screenframe showing a modified form of construction thereof. F ig. 11 is aview in perspective showing a modified form of my novel ventilatingscreen in place in the upper part of a window frame in the space left bythe lowering of the upper sash. Fi 12 is a horizontal section throughthe side members of the frame thereof. Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig.12,

showing a slightly modified form of the device shown in Figs. 11 and 12.Figs. 14 and 15 are horizontai sections through the side members of thescreen frame showing two other modified forms of construction.

As shown in the drawings, in lfiigs. l to 8, inclusive, l5 designatesthe sill and 16, 16 the upright side members of a window frame, saidlatter members being provided each with inner and outer stops 17 and 18,between which is slidably mounted the lower or inner window sash l9.Said window sash is shown in a raised position to allow the placingthereunder of a screen frame comprising two upright side members 22 and23, an upper horizontal member 2% and a iower horizontal member 25. Onthe said screen frame is stretched a piece or layer 26 of porous orforaminous sheet material, which may consist of muslin, cheesecloth,closely woven wire cloth, or other sheet material having such minuteperforations as to permit the passage through it of air for ventilation,but which will act as a barrier to the passage of wind or strong drafts,and also serve to exclude from a room particles of dust. As illustratedin said Figs. 1 to 8, the sheet material is secured at its edges to theoutside faces of the upper, lower and side members of the screen frame.27 and 28 (Fig. 8) indicate strips of wood or other material which maybe applied to cover the edges of the sheet material 26 and which areshown as secured to the members of the screen frame by means of screws.On the inner face of said screen frame is located a movable curtain 29which is made of flexible sheet material which is impervious to air andis adapted to cover to any desired extent the opening through saidscreen frame, in order to regulate or control the size of the area forthe passage of air therethrough. Said curtain may consist of anysuitable flexible sheet material, as a closely woven fabric or sized orpainted cloth. Moreover, said curtain may be made of more than onethickness, and if desired of waterproof material, or have a coating orlayer of waterproof material on its outer face. The said curtain 29 asillustrated is secured at its upper edge to and is rolled upon a springactuated curtain roller 30 of common form. Said roller 30 is arrangedhorizontally at the upper part of the screen frame, being mounted inbrackets 31 which are fixed to the upper ends of the side members 22 and23 of the screen frame. The lower free margin of said curtain isstiffened by an attached rod or stick 33. The ends of said stick. andthe side margins of the curtain are confined beneath a pair of guidestrips 34. and 35 which are secured to the inner faces of the sidemembers of the screen frame and are extended toward each other past theinner faces of said side members. By this means the lower free margin ofthe curtain, as well as the side margins thereof, are prevented fromflapping or fluttering in currents of air. Near their upper ends saidstrips are laterally notched or recessed, as indicated in Fig. T by thereference numeral 36 for the passage of the side margins of the curtain.Said strips are also horizontally slitted near their upper ends to formprongs which are bent outwardly to form the two roller-sn :)portingbrackets 31.

Referring now to the means illustrated for securing the screen frameremovably in place in the window frame, said means comprises features ofconstruction as follows: The side member 23 is provided with avertically extending guide bar 37 which is arranged in tcicscopicrelation therewith and adapted to he moved inward and outward in orderto decrease the width of the screen frame and allow for its beinginserted between the stops 1? and 18; and also to widen the frame inorder that it may fill the space between the upright members it). 16 ofthe window frame when the screen is in position. Said guide bar member37 consists of a piece of sheet metal bent into U-form and arranged withits parallel side flanges in overlapping relation to the inner and outerfaces of the frame member 23. Said bar 37 has sliding engagement withthe faces of said frame member 23 and is pressed outwardly or toward thevertical member 16 of the window casing by means of coiled springs 33interposed between the outer face of the frame member 2 and the innerface of the said bar 37. Said springs 38 encircle and are held in placeby pins or rods 39 which are fixed to the inner face of the bar 37 andextend through horizontal openings in the side member 23. Said pins areprovided at their inner ends with heads by means of which the outwardmovement of the movable bar 37 is limited. The inner flange of the saidbar 37 is provided at its margin with an integral laterally extendingear or tab it), which forms a. handle by means of which said bar may bepressed or drawn inwardly.

The outer flange of the bar 37 is extended atits lower end below thebottom edge of the screen frame and is sharpened to form a spike or spur42, and at its opposite side the lower member of the screen frame isprovided on its outer face with a short downwardly extending strip ofmetal 43 which is 'on both sides of the window casing.

likewise sharpened at its lower end to form a spike or spur 44. Saidspikes or spurs are adapted to be forced into the wood of the sill, inorder to hold the screen from being pushed outward and in contact withthe inner stops 1?, 17. The top of the screen frame is kept in positionby means of a strip of sheet metal which is secured to the inner face ofthe top member of said screen frame and projects above the same to forma vertical flange 4-6 which is adapted to bear outwardly against thelower horizontal member of the window sash.

47, at? indicate packing strips interposed between the stops 1'? and theside faces of the screen frame.

49 indicates a like. packing strip of felt or other suitable materialwhich is interposed between the top surface of the upper member 24 ofthe screen frame and the bottom surface of the lower member of thewindow sash. Said packing strip is extended outwardly at its ends overthe nppcr end of the movable frame member 31'', as indicated by thedotted lines in l ig. 5 and said extended portion rests upon a shortstrip of sheet. metal 52 tl igs. i and T) which is formed integral withand extends horizontally from the upper end of said movabie frame member37.

In Fig. 9 shown a modified form of construction of the device abovedescribed, wherein the screen-frame is made of such thickness as toentirely till the space between he inner and outer window strips 1? and1 hen said modiiicd form of construction is ei'nploycd. the spikes 4:3and 4-1 at the lower edge of the screen frame and the vertical flange 46at the upper edge thereof may be omitted. Said modified form of constrnction is in all other respects similar to the devic above described.

in Fig. 10 is shown another modified form of construction wherein thetelescopic feature of one of the side members is omitted and. the screenframe is made of such width as to permit its being inserted between theinner and outer window stops 1? and 13. respectively, and then placed ina central position with its side members overlapping and engaging withthe inner window stops Said screen frame is provided at its lower edgewith spikes similar to the spikes 4% above described, by means of whichthe screen frame is maintained in a central position in engagement withthe stops at both sides of the window casing.

.111 Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a modified form of my novel ventilatingscreen which is designed to be placed in a window casin in either theupper or the lower part thereo Said modified form of construction shownin i igs. 11 and 1'2, comprises a screen frame similar in all respectsto the screen frame above described except that the side members thereofare each provided with a vcr- 5 frame in order 3 made of such width asto permit its being intically extending recess or groove, to allow themto engage with the side members 60 and (31 of the window casing withoutinterfering with the proper action of a pair of sash pulleys and sashcords (3-2, 63, by means of which the window sash is counterbalanced;and the vertical flange 46 which is secured to the inner edge of one ofthe horixontal members of the frame is replaced by a llange (35 whichextends outwardly from the said frame member and thence verticallyupwardly. It is intended that said modified form of ventilating seieeushall be inverted or turned with the said flange and the curtain rollerat the bottom thereof and shall be placed centrally within the windowcasing between the inner and outer stops and with the said verticalflange (to engaging with the. top frame member of the upper window sash,said sash being lowered to allow the screen to be placed in position. Asshown in Fig. 12, one of the fixed side members of the screen frame (36is provided with a vertically extended recess 68 and at the oppositeside of said screen frame the movable side member 9 is shown as ha ingits end face bent inward to form a recess T1; into which recesses thepulleys G2, 62 extend and in which the sash-cords G3 op crate.

The device shown in Fig. 13 is similar to that shown in Figs. 11 and 12with the following exceptions. In this instance, the verticallyextending recessed movable and stationary side members 72 and 73.respectively, are made thick enough to till the spaces or groovesbetween the inner and outer window stops 17 and 18 whereby the screenframe is held firmly in place by its contact with said stops, and noother securing means is required to hold the frame from either inward oroutward movement, and the screen-frame is provided with an externalcovering H of open mesh wire cloth. intended to protect theair-excluding sheet 26 from injury when said sheet is made of muslin orother textile fabric not itself strong enough to withstand rough usage.The protecting sheet Tl also serves as a guard to prevent accidentthrough the giving away of the air-excluding sheet 26 when the latter ismade of material of little strength, such as muslin or cheese-cloth. Inthe case of a car window, and in other cases, the supplemental sheet ofWoven wire fabric will prevent contact with the inner sheet 26 of hot.cinders which might injure the same by burning. In this instance,moreover, packing stri )S 76, 76 of felt or the like, are interposedbetween the adjacent faces of the screen frame and the inner windowstops 17.

In Fig. 14 is shown another modified form of construction wherein thetelescopic feature of one of the side members of the screen is omittedand the screen frame is sorted between the inner and outer window stops1? and 18. respectively, and then being placed in a central positionwith its side members overlapping and engaging with the inner window stops on both sides of the window casing. Said screen frame is hold inplace in engagement with the inner window stops by means of locking pinsor bolts 80,

80. which have sliding engagement with horizontal openings through theship :nenr

hers and are yicldingly pressed outwardly and into engagement. withODCHIRQ'S in the side members of the window casing by means of springsbl. Said springs St are arranged within enlarged portions of theopenings through the side members and engage at their ends with thebottom surfaces of said enlarged openings, and with collars 82 which arefixed to the pins 80. Said pins ex tend beyond the inner edges of theside members T9 to forn'i handles 83 by means of which the pins may bedrawn toward each other to facilitate the placing of the screen frame inposition; and by means of which the pins may be withdrawn fromengagement with the openings in the window casing when it is desired toremove the screen. As a further modification, I have shown in said Fig.14 the packing strips between the inner win dow stops and the inner faceof the screen frame omitted and replaced by weather strips 8% of anyordinary, or preferred form.

In Fig. 15 is shown a form of construction similar in all respects tothat. shown in Fig. 14 except that the locking pins are placed closelyadjacent to the inside faces of the side members of the screen frame,and said side members are rovided with vertical grooves or recessessimilar to those shown in Fig. 13. whereby the screen frame may be lacedin the upper part of a window casing, in the space left by the loweringof the upper window sash, as well as in the lower part; thereof.

A main feature of my invention consists in a ventilating screen providedwith a porous or foraminous ventilating sheet and with an in'iperforatesheet or curtain which forms in effect a movable valve or closure bywhich the passage of air through the screen may be regulated orcontrolled as desired, and means by which the said curtain is at alltimes held in position adjacent to and parallel with the ventilatingsheet. \Vhilc the curtain referred to is shown as mounted on a springcurtain roller, yet, so far as the general features of my invention areconcerned, said curtain may be wound or rolled in any desired manner inorder to prevent the same from extending beyond the margins of thescreen frame when moved into position. to wholly or partially un coverthe screen and any suitable or desired means may be employed forshifting or moving said curtain.

Another important feature of my invention is embraced in theconstruction by which the screen is provided in addition to the sheet ofporous or foramlnous sheet material adapted to afford ventilationwithout the admission of drafts, With an additional protecting,sheet orlayer of woven Wire cloth, and when said additional protecting sheet orlayer is employed may be arranged outside of and at a distance from theventilating sheet or layer as illustrated or other wise as may bedesired or preferred.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. A ventilating screen constructed forremovable insertion in a window casing, comprising a frame consisting ofside, bottom and top members, a porous or foraminous sheet stretched onand secured at its margins to said frame, a movable imperforate curtainmounted on said frame closely adjacent to and parallel with said sheet,and means carried by the frame for maintaining said curtain parallelwith said sheet.

2. A ventilating screen constructed for removable insertion in a Window,comprising a frame consisting of side, top and bottom members, a porousor foraminous sheet stretched on and secured at its margins to saidframe, a flexible imperforate curtain, a roller for said curtain mountedon said frame inside said sheet, and uides carried by the side membersof the frame for engagement with the side margins of the curtain.

3. A ventilating screen constructed for removable insertion in a Windowcasin comprising a frame consisting of top, ottom and side members, aorous or foraminous, sheet stretched on an secured at its margins to theouter side of said frame, a fiexible imperforate curtain, a roller forsaid curtain mounted on said frame in a plane inside of said sheet, andguide strips fixed to the inner sides of the side members of the frameadapted for engagement with the side margins of said curtain.

4. A ventilating screen constructed for removable insertion in a windowcasing comprising a frame consisting of side, bottom and top members, aporous or foraminous sheet stretched on and secured at its margins tosaid frame, a movable imperforate curtain mounted on said frame closelyadjacent to and parallel with said sheet, means carried by the frame formaintaining said curtain parallel with said sheet, and a yielding devicecarried by the side member of the frame ada ted for engagement with theside member of the window casing to hold the frame in place.

5. A ventilating screen constructed for removable insertion in a Windowcasing, comprising a frame consisting of side, bottom and top members, aporous or foraminous sheet stretched on and secured at its margins tosaid frame, a movable imperforate curtain mounted on said frame closelyadjacent to and parallel with said sheet, means carried by the frame formaintaining said curtain parallel with said sheet, a longitudinal guidebar mounted on one of the side members of the frame, and yieldi meansfor pressing said bar outwardl into engage ment with the vertical mem erof the window casing.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix mysignature in the )resence of two witnesses, this 16th day of duly A. D.1907.

GEORGE H. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. M. BUNN, SAMUEL D. HIRSGHL.

